Morocco to Issue Expression of Interest for New LNG Terminal

SEATTLE (Oil Monster): Morocco is to submit an expression of interest for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility close to the eastern Mediterranean city of Nador in the next days, according to Morocco's Energy Minister Leila Benali. According to him, this week will see the introduction of a request for expressions of interest for the terminal's initial phase.

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The nation has been concentrating on increasing natural gas production in an effort to diversify its energy sources away from fossil fuels. Before the end of the decade, it aims to increase the proportion of renewable energy from the current 45% to 52% of the installed capacity.

The proposed new infrastructure will be a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) located in the deepwater Nador West Med port. It will be linked to an existing pipeline that Morocco uses to import gas from Spanish terminals. The terminal will be linked to industrial zones near the northwestern Atlantic cities of Kenitra and Mohammedia, though further details were not disclosed.

According to Ministry estimates, the country’s natural gas requirements are expected to see notable jump from current level of 1 bcm to 8 bcm in 2027.